From the [Minneapolis-St. Paul] Star-Tribune:

Parents of a 20-year-old man with developmental disabilities have filed a lawsuit  claiming that the state hospital in Cambridge, MN, used “abusive, inhumane, cruel and improper” seclusion and restraints. The lawsuit alleges that the facility routinely and illegally used metal handcuffs, leg shackles, and nylon straps on residents.

James and Lorie Jensen, whose son, Bradley, lived at the facility in 2006 and 2007, are seeking class-action status and unspecified damages.

Hospital staff put Bradley Jensen in leg and hand restraints normally used in law enforcement at least 70 times for minor behaviors such as spitting, vomiting, urinating, laughing or other manifestations of his disability, according to the suit.

… “No human being should have to go through what Brad went through,” Lorie Jensen said in a statement. “It was demeaning and humiliating and hurtful. Other means are available to correct the behavior.”

See also: Students suffer abusive restraints, GAO report says — U.S. News & World Report

Earlier posts here.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 at 9:59 am and is filed under institutionalization, intellectual/developmental disabilities, law, restraints and seclusion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.